I always mean to sit down and write; but my girlfriend (mother, roommate) kind of resents the time I spend doodling on the computer.

[janawriter]

Relationships are tricky at the best of times…. and I definitely don’t
want to get into becoming an advice column here. But it is possible
to participate in a meaningful relationship and still write. The key
is careful apportioning of your time.

First of all, ARE YOU doodling on the computer or are you actually
sitting and writing? This is an important distinction as much for
your girlfriend’s peace of mind as your own as a writer. Everyone has
days or nights when stuff just doesn’t flow. But at the same time, IF
you did thorough planning prior to beginning to write you should know
what needs to be done each and every time you sit down to write. AND,
you should do it.

What you write on those nights may be crap. Crap happens. At the
same time, it is NOT our job to judge as we write. OUR ONLYJOB, IN
THE FIRST DRAFT, IS TO FINISH. Ask your girlfriend (or boyfriend) to
embroider that for you as a wall hanging. That IS your only job this
time around; to finish this draft.

The other thing you should DO is make a commitment to writing; to
WRITING TIME. Screenplays don’t write themselves. So book an
appointment with yourself - and take it as seriously as if it were the
big ticket opportunity you hope your screenwriting may become some
day. Take it seriously now, to BE taken seriously later.

And your girlfriend? Well, you might try engaging her in the process.
Try READING some of your work to her; get her involved. Be careful
though… she may start canceling dates if she likes what you read in an
effort to keep your nose to the grindstone. Involving loved ones in
our quest can become a double-edged sword.

I hope this helps. And I do wish you luck with your screenplay - and
let me know when you’ve completed your script. I’d love to read your
work!

[veena mani]

hi jana   i did not get the genre idea completly...can u plz say the films godfather,groundhog day and gladiator..   Thank u Veena

---

Love Cricket? Check out live scores, photos, video highlights and more. Click here.

[janawriter]

Hey Veena

(Veena's currently studying screenwriting with me via email - but I
thought others might be interested in her question & answer)


So you're having trouble understanding GENRE - you gave me three
titles, Godfather, Gladiator and Ground Hog Day and I assume you
wanted to know what category (or genre) of film each of these stories
are?



Godfather & Gladiator are both DRAMAS - which is a very broad
category. It can be broken down almost infinitely into sub- genres.

So GODFATHER fits into DRAMA - with a sub genre of GANGSTER films
(Goodfellas, the most recent is PUBLIC ENEMIES, Bonnie & Clyde) to
name but a few

GLADIATOR is also a DRAMA - but is a SUB genre as a HISTORICAL picture
or setting (How the West was Won, Shakespeare in Love - also a
drama)

GROUND HOG DAY is a COMEDY - and fits into the SUB genre of ROMANTIC
comedies (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, etc)



You'll find that BOOKSTORES categorize their books according to the
genre that they inhabit too - ie mysteries, thrillers, travel,
cookbooks etc. This makes it easier to find the kind of reading
experience you want when you go looking for a book!

That's part of what GENRE does in film too. It TELLS the audience
what KIND OF JOURNEY they're going to be taking once they sit down.
IT SETS UP a series of expectations. IE, if you pay to see a
thriller - you expect to be anxious and on the edge of your seat for a
good part of the film. The same with COMEDIES.... you expect to be
laughing!!

WHY YOU AS A WRITER, need to know GENRE is because each genre
(mystery, thriller, action adventure, comedy or drama) has certain
signifiers (laughing, screaming in fear or weeping) that an audience
believes SHOULD BE THERE. So you NEED TO KNOW what the audience
expectations are in order to include those signifiers. It also means
when you meet their expectations the audience's LEFT BRAIN is
comforted (the structure side of your brain) and allows them to relax
and 'enter' your story world.


I hope this helps Veena - DO ASK AGAIN if you need more
clarification!! And try reading some of the GENRE LINKS that were on
your handout too. It takes a while for some of this material to make
sense. So do what you can - but just keep reading through the
material and thinking about all of it as it comes through the email.
By the end of the course you may understand GENRE perfectly. Let's
see what happens....

best wishes

jana

On Jul 11, 8:51 am, veena mani <veenai...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> hi jana
>  
> i did not get the genre idea completly...can u plz say the films godfather,groundhog day and gladiator..
>  
> Thank u
> Veena
>

>       Yahoo! recommends that you upgrade to the new and safer Internet Explorer 8.http://downloads.yahoo.com/in/internetexplorer/

[janawriter]

Hey Veena

(Veena is currently studying screenwriting with me via email - and I
thought others might find her question interesting too)

> hi jana
>  
> i did not get the genre idea completly...can u plz say the films godfather,groundhog day and gladiator..
>  
> Thank u
> Veena
>